The Indonesian Ministry of Transport on May 8 announced its decision to resume air services, but at a limited level, after two weeks the country banned air and sea travel to curb the further spread of the COVID-19.
Quick COVID-19 testing in Jakarta, Indonesia (Photo:Xinhua/VNA)
Jakarta (VNA) – The Indonesian Ministry of Transport on May 8 announced its decision to resume air services, but at a limitedlevel, after two weeks the country banned air and sea travel to curb the further spread of the COVID-19.
According to the ministry’s spokesperson Adita Irawati, those who are working in the fields of security, defenseand health service, or having urgent health reasons will be allowed to travelby air if they have a health certificate confirming negative for the novelcorona virus SARS-CoV-2.
The day earlier, Garuda Indonesia Airlines resumed domestic flights, while otherairlines such as Lion Air, Wings Air and Batik Air, planed to resume domesticflights from May 10.
Indonesiahas so far recorded more than 13,000 COVID-19 cases./.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo has signed a law on postponing the 2020 regional elections, which were scheduled for September, due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Indonesia plans to offer 886 trillion rupiah (57.16 billion USD) worth of government bonds in the last three quarters of this year after collecting 221.4 trillion rupiah from auctions in the first quarter.
The Bank Indonesia (BI) on May 6 committed extra efforts to bolster the economy in the context that the country’s economic growth is forecast to weaken 0.4 percent in the second quarter due to coronavirus containment measures.
Indonesia’s central bank has obtained permission to purchase about 42,000 billion rupiah (166.33 billion USD) worth of government bonds in the primary market in 2020, said Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati.
Indonesia will start exporting baby lobsters after a previous ban aimed at conserving the wild population of the crustacean was lifted by the fisheries ministry.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
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Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
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Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
Malaysia’s gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) reached 1.01% of gross domestic product in 2022, a notable increase, with more than 51% contributed by the industry sector. The country is targeting GERD to reach 2.5% by 2030, in line with the national goal of transforming into a high-technology nation.
The facility was established in response to a growing shift in the Filipino labour force from the Middle East to Japan, where workers are seeking safer working environments.
In the latest Indonesia-US trade agreement in July, the US administration agreed to reduce the reciprocal tariff, which was initially set at 32% by US President Donald Trump last April, to 19%.
Real estate agency ERA Singapore estimated that there are 2,703 condo developments in Singapore today, of which 836 or 31% are at least 30 years old. In 10 years, this number is expected to climb to 1,160, assuming none is sold en bloc.
Quick COVID-19 testing in Jakarta, Indonesia (Photo:Xinhua/VNA) 
